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Folding cartons and flexible packaging were some of the products that attracted the greatest demand from the six international buyers that participated in the business roundtable organized by PROCOLOMBIA at Andigráfica. The roundtable closed with prospects of USD 3.2 million.
" The buyers also reported on-site purchases worth USD 1.5 million, indicating that the quality of Colombia' s products was the main reason for the deals being closed," said Maria Claudia Lacouture, PROCOLOMBIA president.
The foreign entrepreneurs, who came from five countries - Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama, and Ecuador - held 69 meetings with the 15 exporters who participated in the gathering that took place during the fair the Colombian Graphic Communication Industry Association (ANDIGRAF) organizes every two years.
Euri Andújar, of Conadex, a company from the Dominican Republic, was one of the foreign entrepreneurs present.
" Colombia is known for being very competitive and for having a high level of quality in the graphics sector. That is what it is known for throughout the region. We already know they are good producers and there are big producers here with a level of specialization. We want to be a part of this, to create a common pool of products in our country with the local products that we already have and adding the specialization that you offer," he said.
Andújar also stated that he needs products that cannot be sourced in the Dominican Republic. " Basically finished products, products that already have a certain level of specialization."
Juan Camejo, of Lavery Panama, had a similar opinion. " My company is in the food sector, so we are looking for folding and laminated cartons. In general, Colombia has good service and very good products to offer, especially in terms of packaging materials, folding cartons and printing."
Another of the buyers from the Dominican Republic was Luis Miura, from the Famira SRL company, who added that " The reason we came to Colombia is because there is a great affinity between our two countries, the transit time is short, no more than a week, and the quality of the Colombian graphics industry is very well developed." His company needs folding cartons, and boxes for rum and tobacco.
The exporters, on the other hand, recognized some business opportunities that PROCOLOMBIA has identified for the Colombian graphics industry.
Andrés Delgado, from Innovación Coimpresores, for example, explained that he has found possibilities " in Central America, the Caribbean and in certain parts of the United States, where Colombian products are known for their quality, for the fulfillment and commitment the companies have to innovation and technological development."
This international recognition has also led to some foreign companies opening offices in Colombia to export to other markets. This is the case of MM Packaging Colombia, a multinational corporation originally from Austria that is dedicated to the production of folding cartons and pre-cut labels for the food industry. It exports these items to Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. " The company decided to establish itself in Colombia because of the favorable qualities of the Colombian market, as well as the export opportunities, and because it has a privileged geographic position from which to service the Andean and Central American markets," stated Pablo Andres Gomez, Business Manager.
" We have identified opportunities for the Colombian graphics industry in at least 16 markets, where the availability of labor, the competitive prices, and the high quality standards of Colombia' s products are recognized," explained Maria Claudia Lacouture, PROCOLOMBIA president.
The potential markets are Argentina, Bolivia, the United States, Brazil, Guatemala, Canada, Honduras, the Caribbean, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, El Salvador and Uruguay.
In terms of distribution channels, an analysis undertaken by PROCOLOMBIA concluded that in the graphics industry, contact is generally made with multinationals and large publishing houses interested in high quality, low cost prints.
